I heard this statement the other day, “What comes from the heart reaches the heart.” Upon hearing this I immediately became still. Sitting there in stillness I began to analyze this statement…knowing it held an abundance of knowledge, I wanted to become VERY clear on where my intention was derived. This simple statement seemed like the most effective form of communication for any chiropractor.

In conversations with people we have to realize the only thing we can control is what we say…we have no control over how what we say will be taken by those with whom we are in communication. With the realization that our words are then that much more important…it makes it a necessity that we speak from the heart. The way I see it if we come from the heart it is much more likely to be received with open arms and an open mind.

Being a ciroprac-TOR puts you in a very unique position in your practice member’s lives. Because Chiroprac-TORs actually make a physical connection with their practice members, hand to spine, there is also a deeper emotional connection. This deep connection often enables people to open up on a much deeper level especially when addressing emotional causes of subluxation. Many times there are conversations that are difficult to have, making it that much more important that we set our intention and come from the heart. Remember, while the conversations may be difficult they are often necessary and therapeutic.

Conversations around emotional subluxations aren’t the only difficult interactions chiroprac-TORS face on a regular basis. Conversations around lifestyle choices and healthcare are often very delicate topics. When dealing with lifestyle choices there is often resistance, denial, and fear. Coming from a place of love creates an environment of peace where healing can begin to take place. When discussing health care it’s important to realize that often practice members, especially new practice members, have often been through countless hopeless situations. Often they feel defeated and scared, with love as your intention it allows you to speak with clarity and certainty, hopefully shining a light through their allopathic tunnel of darkness. Unfortunately the allopathic model as become fear based and does not provide hope making our role in our communities that much more important.

Let me end by saying, D.D. Plamer said, “We have a moral obligation…” which we do and that is to speak the truth about chiropractic and wellness. Let me add “We have a moral obligation which is best received from the heart to be more apt to reach the heart”. So, in your daily conversations set your intention and come from a place of love. You may only have one shot to impact an individual and while you have no guarantee how what you say will be taken the “from the heart to the heart” method seems like your best bet.

The concept of gardening is quite simple. You plant a seed in dirt, you fertilize and water the seed and it begins to grow. Whatever you have planted is what you grow. If you plant green bean seeds you will then pick and enjoy delicious green beans. The same holds true for planting carrot seeds, you will get carrots and if you plant potatoes you will get potatoes. Never will you plant acorn squash seeds and get peas or plant turnips and get tomatoes. It’s just the concept of planting! I like to refer to this concept as the Law of Reaping and Sowing. This Law of Reaping and Sowing applies to our everyday lives. Just like in gardening you can’t harvest what you don’t plant the same holds true for life. You can’t get out of life what you don’t put in.

Most people if not all want an abundant life! They want a life full of love, vibrance, joy, peace, happiness, blessings, and all things grand. The question is not what people want but the question is what are they putting in? When you live your life loving others regardless of circumstance you will in turn receive love. When you maintain a peaceful demeanor in all your interactions you will receive peace in return. If your focus is to bless others and share your abundance you in turn are blessed and receive in abundance. Reaping and sowing is a universal concept that allows you to obtain the life you seek because it is the life you live. Are you sowing in others what you expect to reap?

Is your life missing something? Or do you want more of something? Many times we want more, more, more but we aren’t willing to give, give, give. In these situations, it is important that we self-assess and ask ourselves if we are giving in abundance in all areas so that we are receiving the same. Many times individuals seek to receive love but they are not giving love in order to receive it. Just like you can’t plant a asparagus and harvest a tomato you can’t give anger and receive love! Plain and simple you won’t get what you don’t give. So, start giving more of what you are lacking and be prepared to be fulfilled!

This Thanksgiving remember to give thanks for all that you have been given! Remember that all you have is a blessing you received because of all you have given! Enjoy your family and loved ones! And go ahead give them some love…you will get some awesome love in return!

Healthcare is all the talk in America today and people are scared. Americans are beginning to realize that the government is struggling to find an answer to the health care crisis it is in the midst of. People realize that they need to find their own solution to this huge problem. They are eagerly seeking knowledge to create a game plan for both them and their family. This is a prime time to increase the level with which you are educating your community.

The more talks I do for other doctors around the US the more I realize how hungry people are for the knowledge of chiropractic care and the wellness lifestyle everywhere. I have come to the conclusion that we are one of the few professions who actually educate on TRUE health and wellness and not just quick fixes or band-aids. Each time I speak to another doctor’s office the guests of those patients are so thankful that they were invited to the event and even more gracious I gave them an alternative.

Americans are highly intelligent…they realize that the way we are going is not in the right direction and that as of now the future looks gloomy. Every time they turn on the TV another drug is being released and another is being recalled. They hear about our increasing debt and that medicare is now projected to run out by 2017. The problem isn’t that they aren’t aware of the problem but that they are in need of a solution.

That’s where we come in…wellness and chiropractic is the solution. And, quite frankly the only solution that I know exists. As chiropractors we have to step up. People are literally DYING to hear what we have to say. The wellness and chiropractic lifestyle just makes sense. The question is are you willing to step up your game?

Personally, I have upped my game. I have personally asked each of my patient to help me by educating their friends and loved ones. I have asked my staff to join me and they have graciously accepted. As a team we have increased our events calendar and daily state our affirmations. As a team we are dedicated to make sure that we do everything possible to make sure our community is educated. I created a functional marketing and education company to create clothes that allow individuals to be walking billboards of wellness. I am educating not only my community but the communities of many of my colleagues, through dinner talks and wine nights. This is just the beginning and I don’t plan on stopping here. Will you join me?

I am asking each and everyone of you to step it up. Believe me you will be accepted with open arms. Put it in perspective…an event with 20 non-patient guests means the possibility of 20 less flu shots, 20 less prescriptions, 20 less potential early deaths…..and 20 more first adjustments which means 20 more lives fully expressing my innate. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy what does? And why limit yourself to 20?

In conclusion…I am asking you to step it up. I am available with ideas and I know many colleagues feel the same so just ask. Serve more and save more it really is that simple.

Do you exemplify health and wellness? Could you utilize the mantra, “Be fit. Eat right. Think well. Get adjusted.”? Or would you be lying to say you do? Do you exemplify all four areas? As chiropractors it is absolutely imperative that we live out the same principles that we teach our patients. My patients love to know that I hold myself accountable to the same lifestyle I encourage them to live. I always tell them I would never ask them to do something which I don’t do myself. And I would never….are you congruent?

I get so frustrated when I see unhealthy chiropractors and even more frustrated when I see unhealthy chiropractors who are struggling. In my opinion a huge part of business success is a direct reflection of personal success. This applies to all areas of our personal lives. I always say how you do anything is how you do everything and what you do speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you are saying. Really think about what I just said.

I realized one day that I don’t regularly tell my patients about my lifestyle choices but because I live them out I don’t have to. I exemplify the wellness lifestyle. They can tell that I workout regularly, eat a well balanced diet, think positive thoughts, and get adjusted. By taking care of the body God gave me I am a walking billboard for my practice. People in my community know that I am different. The same holds true for you in your community.

While for some this may seem like a no brainer…but I know for sure this is not true for everyone. It’s sad but true. So, this is my challenge start with you…look at your lifestyle where do you have a gap? What could you do to get one step closer to optimal health. Personally I reassess constantly. I am always looking for additions to my lifestyle to increase my overall wellness and when I find something that works I share it with my practice members so that we can all grow.

Decide today what you can do to continually be your own billboard, a walking, talking advertisement for your practice and the chiropractic lifestyle. The principle of chiropractic is that the body needs no interference: chemical, physical, or emotional. What interferences are you tolerating? What changes or implementations can you make to benefit you, your patients, and your future patients? Realizing that the shift must start with you and with the right intention will result in a ripple effect that alters your practice.

Making changes in the area of wellness is hard for many but crucial for overall longevity. They are forced to let go of habits and sometimes addictions which are a ball and chain to their unhealthy lifestyle holding them back from optimal wellness. Remember ddictions don’t have to be just alcohol, street drugs, and tobacco; they can be processed foods, negative thoughts, a sedentary lifestyle or so much more. Be a role model that allows them to see that change is possible and the teacher that reminds them change is imperative.

Start with you. Make the necessary changes to increase your personal wellness. Make sure you are working out regularly, motion is life. Eat whole foods, we are organic beings not chemical creatures and food is fuel not just fun! You are what you think, uplift yourself and others with positive thought. Sigafoose said, “Subluxations kill!” so get adjusted….REGULARLY! The aforementioned is a phenomenal base recipe for success, as you get comfortable with all four categories on a basic level begin to add to it’s complexity. If you begin to practice what you preach your community will begin to see your dedication to a wellness lifestyle. They will see that you are different and it’s a different that is the right way to go!

Growth is a double edged sword a must do if we plan on living our life to its fullest potential. While the pro’s of growth are that it is gratifying and imperative there are the con’s that at times growth is painful and overbearing. So we must assess our individual life’s journey and decide if continued growth is what we desire. The important thing we must realize is that when we are not growing we are dying so choosing to grow really is the best bet.

Growth often happens in bouts where we grow and then plateau and then grow again continuing the cycle. Knowing this we need to chart our growth and realize when it is that we begin to plateau in order to perpetuate new growth.When we plateau we are at a place that is predictable and easy. At a plateau is when we think we are in control and we “think” we have it all figured out. And most likely we do have it all figured out up to that point but in order to grow we must come to the realization that there is so much more uncharted territory left to be discovered. In order to continue our growth and evolution we must place a root in the plateau and anchor ourselves in order to grow and continue our journey. Rooting yourself allows you to be centered and supported because it is right before our next part of growth when we fall apart.

It’s human nature to fear our next chapter of growth. Often our lives become challenging and it is likely that we begin to feel like failures. We tend to see life as if it is it’s all going wrong. Many times we begin to self-doubt. Rather than fearing growth or being scared its best we begin to realize it is part of our developmental path. It’s imperative that we realize that growth is the only solution and that we begin to realize the origin of the doubt. In life’s journey we need to accept and begin to understand that growth is the solution and fear is the problem. Often times we flip the two and see growth as the problem and fear as the only solution.

Disorganization perpetuates fear, we feel shaky as things begin to become unorganized and become scattered. There are two forces that can cause disorganization, internal or external and many times we experience both simultaneously. Often the internal and external forces occur at an equilibrium . But this disorganization is the recipe we need for growth, its the well-spring of change. We use the fear derived from the disorganization of change to hide behind rather than as a catapult to begin to reorganize and regroup. We often look at the plateau we are leaving behind as a safe haven rather than the ascending road that leads to our next chapter. Rather than allowing the fear to paralyze our growth we need to use it as a catapult into new beginnings.

In conclusion, let’s break it down…embracing growth is the first step in your continued journey to becoming the best version of yourself. Rather than allowing fear to astound your growth use it as a propeller when leaving your current plateau. Remember you are rooted creating a anchor holding you to all that you have become up and to that point and realize have no where to go but up. So, while the process may seem shaky at times don’t let your uncertainty stunt you or cause you to doubt. Instead center yourself on your objective and embrace the process that takes you to your next peak.